Infant Feeding Patterns Of HIV Positive Mothers And Disclosure Of Status To Family And Partners In Botswana

Abstract

Transmission during breastfeeding, which is a multifactorial process, has been associated with increased HIV transmission of 35%-45% in the developing countries. Infants who are formula fed stand a higher risk of morbidity and mortality due to other causes such as malnutrition, pneumococcal infections and diarrhoeal diseases. It is against this background that this study was conducted to assess women’s decisions making process regarding PMTCT, decisions on infant feeding, infant testing and status disclosure to significant others. The results of this study will be used to develop pragmatic interventions and healthcare practices that better address the barriers to prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV while ensuring infant survival.